Segmented Ground Power Supply Short-Circuit Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underfloor ground power systems for electric vehicles face issues with short-circuits due to debris or salt deposits, leading to incomplete power supply sections when a short-circuit occurs, as the circuit breaker opens the entire supply section.
Innovation Solution
The system employs controlled switching means with power transistors and a controller that measures current intensity to detect short-circuits, isolating the affected segment to prevent cascading power loss, allowing other segments to remain operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circuit breaker is used to protect against short circuits in ground power supply systems, then short circuit protection is provided, but the entire power supply section becomes unavailable when a short circuit occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The phase track is divided into multiple independent conductive segments, each with its own controlled switching means. This segmentation allows the system to isolate only the affected segment during a short circuit rather than shutting down the entire power supply section, thus maintaining power availability to other segments while still providing short circuit protection.
2Ease of operation
If controlled switching means are used to connect segments to phase or neutral lines, then power can be supplied to specific segments, but short circuits between powered segments and neutral track cannot be detected or isolated
Solution Approach 1:
A measuring element continuously monitors the current flowing through each power transistor in the controlled switching means. When a short circuit is detected (abnormal current increase), the controller receives this feedback and automatically switches the affected power transistor to blocking state, isolating the short-circuited segment while maintaining control over other segments.
3Reliability
If the entire power supply section is shut down during a short circuit, then safety is ensured, but other functional segments become unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power supply into independent controllable units, each with its own switching control. This allows selective isolation of only the problematic segment during a short circuit, maintaining safety by disconnecting the fault while preserving power supply functionality for other segments, thereby minimizing power supply interruption time.
4Reliability
If debris or salt deposits create short circuits, then electrical contact is established between energized segments and neutral line, but the circuit breaker causes complete power section outage
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring element provides real-time current monitoring feedback to the controller. When debris or salt deposits cause a short circuit between an energized segment and the neutral line, the abnormal current is detected immediately, and the controller responds by blocking the specific power transistor associated with that segment, isolating the fault while keeping the rest of the system operational.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively isolates short-circuit segments without tripping the circuit breaker, ensuring continuous power supply to other segments and reducing the impact of short-circuits on system availability.
Implementation Method 1
System for supplying power via the ground... provide electrical power by conduction to an electric vehicle... measure an electrical quantity relating to the intensity of the current flowing through the second transistor
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
This system (10) comprises: neutral (11) and phase (12) tracks, the phase track being made up of a plurality of successive segments (12n), and an electrical power source (20) connected to neutral (21) and phase (22) lines running along the roadway where the neutral and phase tracks are located, each conductive segment being connected to the neutral and phase lines by means of a controlled switching means (30n) comprising: a first transistor (31n) which, in a conducting state, connects the conductive segment to the neutral line, a second transistor (32n) which, in a conducting state, connects the conductive segment to the phase line, and a controller (40n) suitable for controlling the state of the first and second transistors.The controlled switching means (30n) of a conductive segment includes a sensor (45n) for measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the second transistor, and the controller (40n) detects, according to the measured intensity and while the conductive segment is powered, the occurrence of a short circuit of the conductive segment with the neutral line, and, in case of a short circuit, controls the second transistor in the blocking state.